How Long to Spend in South Korea: 5-to-14-Day Itinerary Ideas

How long to spend in South Korea depends on your vacation length and the experiences that you are interested in.

Most travelers choose to spend 7–10 days in South Korea for their first visit to experience the best of Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island.

If you are short on time, we suggest that you pick one or two cities for a 5-day trip, such as an in-depth tour of Seoul or a visit to Seoul and Busan. For a deeper and more comprehensive trip, you could have a 2-week trip to explore South Korea at a more relaxed pace.

In this article, we provide ideas and itinerary options to help you decide on the perfect duration for your stay in South Korea, ranging from 5 to 14 days.

5 Days in South Korea

A minimum of 5 days in South Korea might seem a little bit short, but it's still enough for you to explore the top attractions.

Spending 5 days in South Korea usually focuses on Seoul for an in-depth capital tour. You could also consider taking a day trip to Seoul's nearby cities or spending 2 days visiting Busan, another top city in South Korea, using 5 days.

Seoul is home to most of South Korea's famous highlights. Immerse yourself in Korean culture at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. Stay at an authentic Hanok hotel, learn how to prepare Korean cuisine, and wander through the vibrant streets of Myeongdong and Insadong.

For your day trip choices, culturally rich Suwon or outdoor activity paradise Chuncheon would be nice. In Busan, you could quickly feel the cultural vibe of this seaside city by visiting Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and Gamcheon Culture Village.

If you have other requirements, our South Korea travel expert can make it happen.

1 Week in South Korea

One week is enough for you to cover two or three must-see cities in South Korea, including the perfect blend of history and modernity in Seoul, the ancient capital of Gyeongju, and the seaside city of Busan.

You're recommended to spend 3–4 days in Seoul to explore the highlights as it is the capital city and provides South Korea's most diverse range of experiences. Then, spend a day in Gyeongju to see its historical sites that date back two thousand years and stay at a Korean-style Hanok hotel. The rest of the trip would allow you to enjoy the freshest seafood and other seaside delights in Busan.

Here is a handpicked itinerary for your inspiration:

• Days 1–4: Seoul (city highlights, a food tour)
• Day 5: Gyeongju (UNESCO sites, stay at a Hanok hotel)
• Days 6–7: Busan (culture-rich buildings, leisurely walk at the beach)

See our hand-picked 1- Week South Korea sample itineraries, which can be tailor-made based on your interests.

10–12 Days in South Korea

A 10-day visit is the most popular travel length in South Korea for first-timers. You could explore one more place than with a 1-week itinerary without feeling rushed.

Experience the best of South Korea in Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju Island in 10 days, from north to south. Starting from Seoul, move south to traditional Gyeongju, then to Busan to view the culture-rich buildings with sea views, and finally fly to Jeju Island to discover its natural wonders. See more itinerary suggestions on our pages: 10 Days in South Korea.

Such a pace of travel is perfect for traveling with (tweenage/teenage) kids, as you could enjoy family-friendly activities together. For example, engage in a private K-pop dancing class and shoot a video, take a Korean cooking class, explore the DMZ tunnels with a private guide, and sleep at a Hanok hotel with a family room.

Here is a well-selected itinerary for your inspiration:

• Days 1–4: Seoul (city highlights, foodie tour, hands-on experiences)
• Day 5: Gyeongju (historical sites, stay at a Hanok hotel)
• Days 6–7: Busan (city tour, the freshest seafood)
• Days 8–9: Jeju Island (natural wonders formed by volcanic activity, traditional seafood catching, kayaking, snorkeling)
• Day 10: Back to Seoul to depart

If you have 12 days in South Korea, you could extend your trip to Sokcho to hike in Seoraksan National Park or immerse yourself in the birthplace of Korean philosophical culture in Andong.

A private tour is a fantastic way to make the most of your time. We can help you prioritize your interests and create an itinerary that fits your schedule and preferences. Contact us to tailor-make a unique tour for you.

2 Weeks in South Korea

With 2 weeks in South Korea, you would have long enough to explore the main cities in more depth and go off the beaten path as well. You could travel at a slow pace and enjoy some free time at the end of the trip.

You could immerse yourselves in a blend of cultural sites and outdoor interests during a 2-week South Korea trip. Highlights include staying at a Hanok hotel, hiking to view the hilltop scenery at Seoraksan, watching a unique mask dancing performance in Andong, exploring Manjanggul lava tube, and enjoying the Haenyeo divers perform as they use traditional methods to catch seafood.

A sample itinerary for your inspiration:

• Days 1–5: Seoul (city highlights, Korean cooking class)
• Day 6: Sokcho (take a cable car or hike to view Seoraksan)
• Days 7–8: Gyeongju (Hanok hotel, day trip to Andong)
• Days 9–10: Busan (city tour, a foodie tour)
• Days 11–13: Jeju Island (natural wonders, explore a traditional village, outdoor water sports)
• Day 14: Back to Seoul to depart

It's also an excellent choice to spend 2 weeks on a cross-border trip to neighboring Japan. South Korea and Japan are renowned for their K-pop and anime respectively, making them highly-popular destinations for families with tweenagers/teenagers. Check out more on this idea if you are interested: How to Plan a 2-Week Itinerary in Japan and South Korea.